"King Cheetah": Debate over Genetic Alteration, Novel Animal Type, or Natural Genetic Variation?

"King Cheetah": Debate over Genetic Alteration, Novel Animal Type, or Natural Genetic Variation?

In the vast plains of southern Africa, a rare and enigmatic big cat has been capturing the imagination of wildlife enthusiasts for centuries – the king cheetah. Known for its striking blotchy coat pattern with elongated and merged spots, this majestic creature has long been a subject of debate and speculation.

Initially, some believed the king cheetah to be a cross between a leopard and a hyena, a theory that gained traction among locals in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. However, further investigations revealed that the king cheetah's feet were structurally similar to those of the existing cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), not a leopard's, casting doubt on the hybrid theory.

In the early 1900s, some Westerners proposed that the king cheetah was a leopard-cheetah hybrid, but this idea was eventually dismissed. Instead, it was suggested that the king cheetah was a different species, dubbed Acinonyx rex. However, this classification was retracted in 1939 by English zoologist Reginald Pocock due to lack of evidence.

Fast forward to 2012, and the truth behind the king cheetah's coat pattern was finally revealed. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology discovered a mutation in the gene Taqpep that is responsible for the blotched coat pattern in some tabby cats. Upon examining the DNA of a captive king cheetah in a US conservation program, the same mutation was found, confirming that this genetic mutation is responsible for the king cheetah’s unique coat pattern.

The mutation in Taqpep is recessive, meaning a cat must have two copies of the mutated gene to have a blotchy pattern. Further DNA analysis of cheetahs under the care of conservationist Ann van Dyk, who dedicated her life to cheetah conservation, provided evidence that the mutation is responsible for the king cheetah’s distinctive coat pattern.

Thanks to captive breeding programs like those in South Africa, where van Dyk ran the conservation center, there may be more king cheetahs yet to come. Although they are relatively rare, with approximately 10 thought to be living in the wild, the future of this extraordinary creature seems a little brighter.

Van Dyk, who passed away after the research was conducted, left a legacy through her detailed breeding records and the DNA samples from the cheetahs under her care. Her contributions have been instrumental in shedding light on the genetic mysteries of the king cheetah, a fascinating big cat that continues to captivate and inspire.

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11221 [3] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229151638.htm

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